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Ormond hopes to shut down traffic at new beachfront park

Published: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 4:12 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 10:41 p.m.

ORMOND BEACH — City officials want to make the area in front of its soon-to-be christened beachfront park a traffic-free zone. But it's not clear how much support the idea will get from Volusia County, the mayor and city manager said.

In its meeting Tuesday night, the Ormond Beach City Commission decided it will draft a letter to the county requesting a traffic-free zone in front of Andy Romano Beachfront Park at 839 S. Atlantic Ave.

"It's a no-brainer," said Mayor Ed Kelley. "It just makes all the sense in the world."

While there will be no parking on the beach in front of the 4.5-acre park, the county didn't commit to banning driving, City Manager Joyce Shanahan told commissioners. Other beachfront parks, such as SunSplash in Daytona Beach, ban parking — but not driving — on the beach in front of the parks.

"They did not indicate a willingness to make it a traffic-free zone," Shanahan said.

Volusia County Beach Patrol Capt. Tammy Marris confirmed the county has been in talks with Ormond Beach about a traffic-free area, but there are "no plans in effect to do that so far."

"It's not something we just do," she said.

But District 4 County Councilman Doug Daniels, who represents Ormond Beach, will be in the city's corner on the issue.

"If the city of Ormond Beach is asking for it, then the county ought to do it," he said. "I'm completely in favor of it."

County Manager Jim Dinneen said once the county were to receive a formal request a study would be done.

“That's a ways off,” he said. “At this point I wouldn't have any idea,” how the council will vote.

County Chair Jason Davis declined to comment on the issue until he had studied it further.

"I would have to look into that," he said.

The $2.7 million park was developed jointly by the city and county. A grand opening is set for Feb. 23.

According to a map of the area presented in the commission meeting, Ormond Beach officials would want traffic to enter and exit the beach from the Harvard Drive and Milsap Road approaches.

Kelley said he believes no traffic in front of the park would maximize safety for beachgoers.

"Personally, I'm not against driving on the beach," he said. "But this way children and adults would not have to worry about cars."

Last year, the county rolled out several initiatives to make beach driving safer after a spate of accidents involving pedestrians, including the deaths of two children.

Some of the new rules include no parking in front of parks like SunSplash, keeping headlights on, a window down and no texting while driving. One-way traffic has also improved safety in front of parks, Marris said.

<p>ORMOND BEACH &mdash; City officials want to make the area in front of its soon-to-be christened beachfront park a traffic-free zone. But it's not clear how much support the idea will get from Volusia County, the mayor and city manager said. </p><p>In its meeting Tuesday night, the Ormond Beach City Commission decided it will draft a letter to the county requesting a traffic-free zone in front of Andy Romano Beachfront Park at 839 S. Atlantic Ave. </p><p>"It's a no-brainer," said Mayor Ed Kelley. "It just makes all the sense in the world." </p><p>While there will be no parking on the beach in front of the 4.5-acre park, the county didn't commit to banning driving, City Manager Joyce Shanahan told commissioners. Other beachfront parks, such as SunSplash in Daytona Beach, ban parking &mdash; but not driving &mdash; on the beach in front of the parks. </p><p>"They did not indicate a willingness to make it a traffic-free zone," Shanahan said. </p><p>Volusia County Beach Patrol Capt. Tammy Marris confirmed the county has been in talks with Ormond Beach about a traffic-free area, but there are "no plans in effect to do that so far." </p><p>"It's not something we just do," she said. </p><p>But District 4 County Councilman Doug Daniels, who represents Ormond Beach, will be in the city's corner on the issue. </p><p>"If the city of Ormond Beach is asking for it, then the county ought to do it," he said. "I'm completely in favor of it." </p><p>County Manager Jim Dinneen said once the county were to receive a formal request a study would be done.</p><p>“That's a ways off,” he said. “At this point I wouldn't have any idea,” how the council will vote. </p><p>County Chair Jason Davis declined to comment on the issue until he had studied it further. </p><p>"I would have to look into that," he said. </p><p>The $2.7 million park was developed jointly by the city and county. A grand opening is set for Feb. 23. </p><p>According to a map of the area presented in the commission meeting, Ormond Beach officials would want traffic to enter and exit the beach from the Harvard Drive and Milsap Road approaches. </p><p>Kelley said he believes no traffic in front of the park would maximize safety for beachgoers. </p><p>"Personally, I'm not against driving on the beach," he said. "But this way children and adults would not have to worry about cars." </p><p>Last year, the county rolled out several initiatives to make beach driving safer after a spate of accidents involving pedestrians, including the deaths of two children. </p><p>Some of the new rules include no parking in front of parks like SunSplash, keeping headlights on, a window down and no texting while driving. One-way traffic has also improved safety in front of parks, Marris said. </p><p>"It's very clear to see what a difference it's made," she said.</p>